July uprising was result of 17 years of continuous movement: Home Minister

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has said the July mass uprising was not a sudden development but the outcome of 17 years of continuous political movements.

"The mass uprising was not Newton's apple. We had to make it happen. It did not simply fall on its own," he said.

"The movement, the mass uprising, had to be brought to fruition through 17 years of continuous struggle."

He made the remarks as the chief guest at a discussion organised by the 'Sada Dal' of Dhaka University on Saturday to mark the second anniversary of the July mass uprising and discuss its aspirations.

Salahuddin criticised what he described as attempts by new political actors to promote a "new political settlement" while following the practices of the old political order.

"I would ask them to correct themselves. If someone enters politics as a primary-school pupil but behaves like a university professor, that is not right. They have to learn, and they have a long way to go," he said.

"The political arena is difficult, challenging and full of obstacles. It is not that easy."

The home minister said it would be politically immature to suggest that the 17 years of continuous movements had no contribution to the July uprising simply because the final phase of the movement lasted 36 days.

"If someone claims to understand everything after entering the political arena as a primary-school pupil, I would tell our new political friends that the politics of the old order will no longer work in Bangladesh," he said.

"Politics based on selling political consciousness will no longer work in Bangladesh."

'We must not create conditions for fascism's return'

Salahuddin said some of the political allies who had long been involved in the democratic movement had participated in the struggle discreetly or through other means.

"They did not always participate openly in the streets and on the ground. We will debate in parliament and conduct politics in the streets and among the people. That will be democratic practice," he said.

"But we will not engage in practices that make it easier for fascism to return."

Warning against 'hijacking' July uprising

The home minister criticised those he said were attempting to claim credit for the July mass uprising and use it as a foundation for forming political parties and pursuing political careers.

"We have told them many times that politics based on selling political consciousness has failed in Bangladesh," he said.

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"Politics based on selling the spirit of 1971 has failed disastrously in Bangladesh."

Salahuddin also criticised former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, saying she had continued to invoke the spirit of the 1971 Liberation War while now living in Delhi.

He said a saying had emerged that "the political death of the Awami League and Sheikh Hasina took place in Dhaka, while their burial took place in Delhi".

"I may have coined the phrase, but there is nothing wrong with it becoming a proverb. Why did it happen? Because of this politics of selling the spirit of the Liberation War," he said.